Drivers have been warned that the A1 in Cambridgeshire will be closed in both directions - while a bridge is demolished.

As part of the A14 upgrade, a new bridge has had to be built near Brampton, and it opened this week.

But it means the old bridge that spanned the road will now have to be taken down, and the work is scheduled for this coming weekend (Saturday February 17 and Sunday February 18).

The new bridge (bottom) under construction in December 2017: it is 50 metres longer than the old one (top) and will span both the existing A1 and the new A14

A spokeswoman for Highways England said: "The Brampton Road bridge in Grafham, which links Brampton and Grafham and spans the current two-lane A1 dual carriageway, has just been upgraded to a newer, longer model.

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"The new bridge, which is 50 metres longer than the old one and will need to span both the new, widened A1 and future A14 – totalling 10 lanes of carriageway at this location, was officially opened on Monday (February 15) by Brampton Parish Council chairman Cllr Simon Jordan and his family.

Vehicles crossing the new Brampton Road bridge for the first time on

"The project team invited residents from Brampton and Grafham to cross the bridge – the second to be opened on the scheme – for the first time in a variety of vehicles including electric and vintage cars, motorcycles and bicycles."

Mike Evans, Highways England senior stakeholder manager for the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme, said: "Now that the new bridge is opened we can get on with demolishing the old bridge and continue building the new A1 and A14 carriageways at this location.

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"The old Brampton Road bridge will be demolished this weekend by excavators positioned on the protected A1 carriageway beneath it, which will break it down mechanically. All the concrete recovered from the old bridge will be crushed and reused on the project.

The new Brampton Road bridge is officially opened by Brampton Parish Council chairman Simon Jordan and family

"To carry out this work safely, the A1 and Brampton Road will need to be closed between Saturday February 17 and Sunday February 18."

When exactly will it be closed?

The A1 will be shut both northbound and southbound between Buckden and Bramptpon Hut from 8pm on Saturday until 3pm the following day.

Brampton Road itself will also be shut during the same times.

How can I avoid it?

During the closures, signed diversions will be in place. Drivers travelling along the northbound A1 will be diverted via the A428, A1198 and A14, while drivers heading south will use the same diversion in reverse.